The Gulf Stream

• Gulf Stream is a western boundary current

• Important contributor to poleward heat transport & the climate of Europe

• Also important as a trade route & for animal migrations

• Early maps determined by dead reckoning

Gulf Stream & Eel Life Cycles

Benjamin Franklin’s Map

Dead Reckoning

Sverdrup’s Map

Richardson's Atlas

Richardson's Atlas

Surface Drifters

Surface Drifter Climatology

Western Boundary Currents

• WBC’s are found in all subtropical gyres

– Gulf Stream, Brazil Current, Kurishio

• Creates asymmetric gyres

• WBC’s have need to “rub up” to continent

• Again, a boundary layer

Surface Currents from Altimetry

Data Assimilation Animation

Dynamic Height

What cause’s WBC’s??

• Need to understand vorticity...